Can it be time for another election cycle? Filing for the 2026 Election is slated to begin January 12 and end January 31. The Primary Election is May 12, 2026 and the General Election is November 3.
Often known as the “off-term election”, the election cycle includes Federal, State and Local candidates. The Butler District County Commission seat, currently held by Eron Chek (R) will be on the ballot. Prospective candidates must reside in Butler District. Also on the ballot will be the County Clerk’s seat currently held by Karan Valenti (R). Candidates may live anywhere in Hancock County.
Members of the Hancock County Democratic Executive Committee and State Executive Committee are also on the ballot in the primary election.
Members of the House of Delegates on the State level and House of Representatives on the Federal level run every two years. In District 1, Del. Pat McGeehan (R) is up for election while Del. Mark Zatezalo (R) holds the seat in District 2. The Districts have been redrawn into single delegate districts and prospective candidates should check maps to see the district in which they reside. One of the two State Senate seats will be on the ballot. Although the Senate is a four-year term, the seated Senators alternate on who is up. State Senator Laura Wakim Chapman (R), a resident of Ohio County, is up for re-election while Senator Ryan Weld will hold his seat for two more years. Weld is a resident of Brooke County. Since the seated Senator (Weld) resides in Brooke County, eligible candidates must be from either Ohio or Hancock County. On the Federal level, the seat held by Congressman Riley Moore(R) will be up.
All judicial seats are now non-partisan. Current Hancock County Magistrates, Omeka Pettaway, Steve Svokas and Matt Harvey will all be up for re-election. The WV Supreme Court of Appeals, Intermediate Court of Appeals and Circuit Court Judges will be on the ballot.
The non-partisan Board of Education will be on the ballot. Randy Swartzmiller and Chris Gillette won the 2024 election, meaning the remaining 3 seats are up.
